The terawatt challenge (R. Smalley)

[superleeds]

[ QUOTE ]
LOL! Government has ONE goal - the preservation and expansion of its own power

[/ QUOTE ]

And I thought I was a cynic [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[The once and future king]

Apollo progamme/market solution not necessarily mutualy exclusive.

[The once and future king]

[ QUOTE ]
LOL! Government has ONE goal - the preservation and expansion of its own power.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is true even when Reagan and Thatcher are in power [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]. Ridiculous and intellectualy lazy over generalisation.

[tylerdurden]

[ QUOTE ]
If this is true how can a market made up of these type of people (who are obviously in the majority) ever be described as rational??

[/ QUOTE ]

Every conscious action is intended to improve a person's satisfaction. I'm not concerned with any particular person's definition of satisfaction, only with how they pursue it.

[tylerdurden]

[ QUOTE ]
This is true even when Reagan and Thatcher are in power [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img].

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure. No argument there.

[ QUOTE ]
Ridiculous and intellectualy lazy over generalisation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Care to provide a counterexample?

[tylerdurden]

[ QUOTE ]
Apollo progamme/market solution not necessarily mutualy exclusive.

[/ QUOTE ]

True. That doesn't change the fact that the government program would be inefficient, bloated, and politically manipulated to produce a centrally-approved result.

[superleeds]

[ QUOTE ]
Care to provide a counterexample?

[/ QUOTE ]

Britain 1945. The course it chose almost guaranteed that it's influence would be drasticly reduced. If it's one goal was to maintain and extend its power it would not have gone to war with Germany but rather it would have sought some kind of pact. There is historical evidence to suggest Hitler was open to this.

[The once and future king]

Under Thatch the UK government cut its upper Income tax rate from 60% to 40%. It also privatised seversal state run industries such as rail, Gas and telecomms. If it was seeking to increase its powers at all times why did it do this?

I dont disagree that governments can and do seek to increase there power but the assertion that they do this at all times is a gross oversimplification.

[tylerdurden]

[ QUOTE ]
Under Thatch the UK government cut its upper Income tax rate from 60% to 40%. It also privatised seversal state run industries such as rail, Gas and telecomms. If it was seeking to increase its powers at all times why did it do this?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because the thatcherites wanted to remain in power.

[microbet]

FWIW, I think central planning is going too far, but I think it is fine for the gubmint to encourage/require new energy research and conservation to some extent.